I been havin dry eye ever since surgery...even days before surgery! I thougth this problem was temporary...why is it still ongoing? And it usually only occurs when I wake up every morning...and it HURTS to move my eyeball while in that dry state...until I save myself by using artificial tears...which is why I HAVE TO always keep it on hand, and its a pain.

And is there a way to permanently resolve it without having to buy box after box after box of artificial tears?

It appears to me that when I take flax seed oil, it remedies it for the period that the bottle is not empty. After it empties, the dry eye comes back.

DocH wrote:When was your surgery? Mine was in June '09 and my eyes were dry until about a month ago. Try Lacrilube ointment at night not drops and Genteal gel during the day.

My surgery was June 08...and I've had dry eye every morning since then! And I already tried the bedtime ointments & artificial tears (the problem is I have to keep buying them in order to use them EVERY morning I wake!).....AND I've taken flax seed oil & fish oil in capulet form, everyday....

The problem, again, lies in: WHEN DOES IT END?!?

My question is:

1> Will this be a permanent condition? When will it go away?? Is this dry eye of mine curable??

2> What can I do, or who do I see about this problem to get it fixed? (Cuz I can't go back to the lasik office that did my surgery...they said their business with me is over.)

I've been taking Restasis for my dry eyes for almost three months now and haven't noticed any difference. If there is a difference, it's so slight as to be negligible. Ah, aint life grand. Restasis costs a bundle, btw.

The manufacturer states that Restasis does not reach full effectiveness unit after about 90 days of continued use. Restasis is an anti-inflammatory. Inflammation around the tiny channels that carry the fluids that comprise tears can restrict flow. Restasis can increase fluid flow by reducing the inflammation. Restasis will only be a viable treatment if the dry eye is caused by channels restricted by inflammation.

"Dry eye" does not necessarily mean the eyes are dry. It is necessary to determine if the quantity of the tears is adequate and if the quality of the tear is appropriate to keep the eyes moist. It is possible that both quantity and quality are okay, but the patient feels dry eye symptoms. This can occur if the nerves that provide this feeling are disrupted during Lasik. Dry eye treatment will only be viable if the symptoms are actually caused by a fluid deficiency.

It is more common to experience dry eye toward the end of the day after the eyes have been exposed for many hours. Dry eyes only in the morning may indicate that the eye lids are not fully closed during sleep. Some individuals with this problem have taken to wearing small swimming goggles that fit tightly around each eye socket. This traps moisture and keeps out the dry air. A humidifier in the room may also provide relief.

Remember that air conditioning is a dehumidifier and a humidifier may be necessary just to bring the environment to normal.

Be certain that you use only artificial tears that are 100% preservative-free. The preservatives in artificial tears are a mild toxin that is normally benign, but extended and frequent use can cause the very irritation you are trying to avoid.

I've been taking Restasis for about 3 1/2 months now and have concluded that my dry eye is not caused by inflammation of those channels that you mentioned. My dry eyes have some other cause. If they didn't, the Restasis would have been more effective than it has been.

It seems to me that Dry Eye is an excuse that the industry uses after lasik has destroyed the function of your eyes. In the past 41/2 years, I have tried every eye drop and goop known to man. Most of them can make my eyes feel better for about 20 minutes before they start burning and itching again. Restasis is a complete waste of money. Similasans even works better. NONE of these drops ever makes me see better so how can my double vision be caused by dry eye?I have seen three different eye doctors and I always leave the office thinking I have wasted even more money. They don't seem to have a clue about how to remedy the damage caused by lasik.